The grand forest of Yggdrasil spread around the World Tree.
The carriage moved toward that sacred land, which for the elves is both their hometown and holy site. Creak, as the wheels of the carriage rolled, Raniel closed her eyes. What came to mind were memories of the past.
Specifically, the time when she held fantasies about elves.
Like most humans, there was a time when Raniel cherished a strange longing for the elven race. After all, how could she not? In fairy tale books, elves are often depicted as symbols of beauty, akin to mysterious fairies.
But that wasn’t all, was it?
The tragic love between heroes and elves.
There are dozens of fairy tales centered around the lifespan differences between long-lived and short-lived beings. Having grown up reading such tales, Raniel also harbored fantasies about elves…
“Thinking back, isn’t that all a scam?”
Sadly, that fantasy didn’t last long.
Raniel opened one eye and shot a glance at Cardi. The first elf she had met. And the one who tainted her impression of “elves.”
“Just like you.”
“What about me?”
“You’ve shown that not all long-lived elves are dignified and wise adults.”
Raniel realized that many elves, rather than becoming ‘adults’ over long years, turned into old farts. The one sitting in front of her was just that.
“As for the next elf I met, Remia…”
“…I have no words about that child.”
Raniel shook her head with an expression of annoyance. Although Remia had somewhat improved over the three years since that day, her horrific first encounter with her was something that could never be forgotten.
Human contempt. Racial discrimination. The pride of elves.
How dreadful was that journey with that damn Ear Girl? Of course, now that it was all in the past, it could be packed away as a memory…
Sympathy Mage.
What do you expect, with that personality at that age, is it any wonder that you’re still a virgin?
Raniel made a face as though she had bitten into a bug.
“No, I can’t call it a memory.”
It wasn’t really something she could pass off as that.
Because those memories were rather terrible. As Raniel recalled the past, cringing and mumbling, “That Remia, that brat from ten years ago…,” Cardi chuckled absentmindedly.
“…What’s so funny?”
“Just don’t ask.”
He no longer called her Ear Girl.
Swallowing that remark, Cardi looked out of the window. The scenery rushed by. The Yggdrasil they were heading toward wasn’t technically the holy land of the elves. Cardi’s hometown, the old sacred place, had already turned to ashes.
The old sacred place, which had suffered near complete destruction due to the King of Beasts, was fully trampled by the Demon Lord when Cardi’s journey came to an end.
A land where no one could live any longer.
Leaving that land behind, Cardi led the young elves elsewhere and planted the seed of the World Tree there.
“It’s been a while.”
He hadn’t visited since then.
Cardi recalled Orbel, the elf he had taught, and couldn’t help but smile. He wondered how much the kid had grown.
“That brat Orbel is the oldest elf, huh…”
As Cardi muttered in disbelief, Raniel shot him a look. Even a thousand-year-old elf could still be referred to as a brat…
“Hey, Cardi.”
“What is it?”
“If that kid isn’t a brat in your eyes, then how old do you have to be?”
The answer came immediately.
“Over 1,438 years old.”
“…Why is that number so specific?”
Raniel looked at Cardi with suspicion.
“Hey, Cardi, are you saying you’re 1,438 years old?”
“No.”
Right, of course not.
Even so, he couldn’t be that devoid of conscience…
“1,437 years.”
“Ugh, shameless old fart.”
2.
The carriage came to a stop at the entrance of Yggdrasil.
The edge of the lush forest.
Stretching, Raniel let out a long breath. A massive forest formed around the World Tree. As she inhaled the fresh air, she spun her arms around.
“Every time I see it, it’s so complicated.”
The grand forest was the elves’ land.
In other words, it meant there weren’t proper paths for visitors from other races. If they smashed through vines and trees, they might find a way, but she wasn’t here to fight elves…
“It should be time for the guide to arrive soon…”
She had sent a message in advance.
Waiting at the forest’s edge, the branches reaching up to the sky began to sway slightly. Soon, an elf descended from the tree.
“Hero, are you Lady Rania van Trias?”
She smiled brightly and bowed to Rania.
“I was commanded by Lord Orbel to escort a noble guest. Please follow me.”
Just as she was about to lead the way, she glanced at Cardi, who stood beside Raniel. Cardi had pulled his hood low, concealing his face.
“Who is the person next to you…?”
Raniel glanced sideways at Cardi.
A questioning gaze of why he was hiding his face. Ignoring that look, Cardi spoke to the elf guide.
“He’s my companion.”
“…Huh?”
“He really is my companion. Let’s just go.”
The elf tilted her head in confusion and began walking ahead looking somewhat reluctant. Following behind, Raniel elbowed Cardi in the ribs.
“…What’s with that?”
“Why are you hiding your face?”
“Because I’m curious to see how well that brat is doing. If I expose my face first, then wouldn’t he try to show a different side of himself?”
Raniel made a perplexed face.
“Your hobby is surprisingly twisted.”
“Who’s as twisted as you are?”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard from Belnoa. That you’ve been keeping your identity hidden while teaching students at the Academy…?”
Thud, Raniel stepped on Cardi’s foot.
Cardi flinched, his body trembling as Raniel strode ahead. Seeing her earlobe redden, Cardi muttered inwardly.
So she must know she should feel embarrassed.
How long did they walk while being guided? The dense foliage gradually parted, and visibility began to improve. The warm sunlight shone on the ground. Looking ahead, a towering tree touched the sky.
The World Tree, Yggdrasil.
A city formed around the roots and trunk of the giant World Tree, home to the elves. Just as Raniel was admiring the overwhelming landscape, a voice interrupted.
“The King is waiting for you.”
The elf who had guided them bowed her head and stepped aside. Suddenly, loud footsteps echoed. A procession of elves. The elves gathered to welcome the guests parted left and right, and someone strode forth. Clack, the sound of footsteps echoed.
“A distinguished guest has arrived.”
The voice that rang out was clear.
Dressed in clothing that was neither flashy nor simple, the elven king, Orbel, approached Raniel with a gentle smile.
“The protector and sage, a hero of the world. But more importantly… the friend of our elf’s benefactor, Lord Cardi.”
The person who embodied the word ‘elf’ the best.
Raniel didn’t need to shatter her fantasies about this one. Orbel, the one who truly looked like an elf, approached Raniel with a soft smile and a nod.
“I’ve seen your letter. While you stay by the World Tree, this child will assist you… and feel free to ask for anything you wish.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Of course, it’s only natural for a friend of my benefactor.”
As they spoke, Orbel suddenly shifted his gaze to Cardi, who stood beside Raniel. More specifically, he focused on Cardi’s robe. He felt an inexplicable déjà vu from the robe and narrowed his eyes.
“By the way, who is this mage beside you…”
“Nice to meet you, Orbel.”
Before Orbel could finish his sentence, Cardi spoke. The audacity of speaking the king’s name without honorifics made the elves beside Orbel widen their eyes in shock.
“While you may have a relation with my benefactor, that’s quite disrespectful. To refer to the king as…”
As several elves raised their voices, Orbel, who stood at the center, trembled slightly. That voice. He couldn’t forget that voice.
“Correct it immediately… is that you, my king?”
Blocking the elf beside him with his arm, Orbel took a step forward. The elf looked at Orbel with a bewildered gaze as Orbel slowly, very slowly bowed his head before the robed mage.
“I greet the great master.”
The sight of the noble king bowing caused the elves to gasp for a moment, but they soon gasped again as Cardi removed his robe.
Rustle.
As the robe fell away, silver hair and golden eyes revealed themselves.
“That person has hair like the silver moon and eyes like a dragon soaring through the sky.”
It matched the description of the esteemed ancestors of the elves that he had heard from the king. And through the actions of the king, the elves realized the identity of the person before them.
The renowned benefactor of the elves.
Cardi van Armiel was present here. While the elves’ pupils trembled, Cardi reached out and patted Orbel’s shoulder twice.
“Yeah, it’s been a while. Orbel.”
Immediately, voices echoed from all around, “To meet the great ancestor, we bow our heads humbly!” Watching the elves lower their heads one by one like they were bubbling over, Raniel looked at Cardi with a mix of disbelief.
“…What is all this?”
“I told you,” Cardi shrugged. “I’m notorious among these kids.”
3.
The elven king Raniel remembered, Orbel, truly matched the word ‘king.’ While he looked like a 20-something elf as they usually do, his atmosphere and dignity were different from other elves.
Noble and regal, above all, he was truly elven.
It was quite a sight to see him bowing his head and tearfully muttering how long it had been since he had arrived before Cardi, whom he had come to meet.
“Hey, Cardi.”
Raniel pointed at the World Tree, looking dismayed.
“I’m going to see Kyle and Sara, so you stay here and chat. It doesn’t look like they’re going to let you go anytime soon.”
“Just as you wish.”
She thought bringing Cardi would make it easier to talk, but it seemed that was a miscalculation. With a sigh, Raniel walked away. Originally, the sacred place where the roots of the World Tree were located prohibited the entry of anyone other than the king…
“A blessing to meet the friend of our great ancestor…!”
As Raniel stepped forward, the elves lowered their heads and parted to the sides. From the moment she was accompanied by Cardi, she became something more than just a guest. Feeling an immense burden, Raniel continued on.
…At least this part is convenient.
If she had come alone, she would have had to navigate through countless elves just to get here. Finally, arriving at the roots of the World Tree, the deepest place, Raniel let out a long sigh.
A tightly closed door.
If she opened that door and entered, there would be the spring of light. A place sparkling with clusters of light big and small. The concentration of life energy that pervaded the grand forest. The mana existing in this space was purer than anything else, and the air was refreshingly clear.
Drip.
Looking up, she saw blue water flowing from the roots of the World Tree tangled in the ceiling. Water that trickled down the roots, coursing through the channels of this room. It was like a stream of the essence of life.
‘Every drop is the highest-grade potion made by a master alchemist, right…?’
Indeed, it was an environment optimized for healing.
Chuckling, Raniel shifted her gaze. In the center of the room lay two figures who seemed to be in a deep slumber.
“…”
Raniel walked silently.
The two people were immersed in the essence of life, their eyes closed. Kyle Toven and Sara. Immediately in front of her, Raniel clicked her tongue.
“Damn, look at this…”
With their hands intertwined.
The roots of the World Tree coiled around their hands. The sight resembled that of a hero and a saint from a fairy tale, leaving Raniel feeling a strong sense of discomfort.
There was an inexplicable sense of alienation.
Like most humans who had lived single for years, Raniel felt an inexplicable pang of jealousy as she observed the two who were undeniably a couple. It was such an aggravating sight.
But that was only a moment.
“Sigh.”
Seeing the relaxed expressions on the two, Raniel couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. Slumping down between them, she exhaled deeply, very deeply.
“Long time no see, Kyle. Sara.”
You both are just as you were.
